Whitsand Bay RNLI lifeguards rescue three women cut off by tide

The group were walking from Tregantle beach to Sharrow beach when they were quickly cut off by the incoming, very high spring tide in a small bay between the beaches called No Fear. Luckily, the group had a friend on the cliff who decided not to join them on the walk. Realising the tide was coming in, she quickly alerted the lifeguards at Sharrow about her friends.

Due to the location of the casualties and the conditions on the day, the lifeguards requested the assistance of their colleagues at Tregonhawke who quickly launched their inshore rescue boat (IRB). The lifeguards completed multiple trips to pick up the casualties due to the three foot surf, allowing them to ensure the safety of the casualties. The lifeguards then helped them back to Sharrow beach:

One of the women, Clare Whitelock commented on the lifeguards Facebook page:

‘We’d like to thank the lifeguards again for all their help when we got caught out by the tide near Sharrow. They were our heroes yesterday and they do an amazing job.’

Charlie Gillett, RNLI lifeguard supervisor for the area, said:

‘This was a tricky situation for the casualties to find themselves in. It was lucky their friend spotted that the tide was coming in and alerted the lifeguards as we are currently experiencing very high spring tides and there was big surf yesterday. Thanks to the quick thinking of their friend we were able to help the casualties immediately. We always advise people visiting the coast to come to a lifeguarded beach and to check the weather and tide times before arriving.’

Notes to Editor

• Pictured: Tregonhawke RNLI lifeguard’s IRB and Tregonhawke lifeguards with the casualties: Claire Whitelock and her firends Lynne and Anne

• RNLI lifeguards patrol over 249 beaches around the UK and Channel Islands

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